Actress Youn Yuh Jung has opened up about her eldest son’s sexuality, and her heartfelt words are gaining praise around the world — even a professor from Yale University spoke out to show his respect!

On April 20, Yale psychiatry professor Na Jong Ho posted on Facebook, saying, “If I had to choose the bravest celebrity in Korea, I would say Hong Seok Cheon without hesitation,” referring to the actor who came out as gay in 2000. “Since he came out, no other famous celebrity has followed. That shows how rare and difficult it is.”

Then, he brought up Youn Yuh Jung’s recent interview with foreign media, where she shared, “My eldest son is gay,” and expressed deep respect for her honesty.

Professor Na added, “As Youn said, Korean society is still very conservative. It might not seem like a big deal for people in the U.S., but it takes a lot of courage for someone from that society. That’s why I truly respect her.”

In a recent interview about her upcoming Hollywood film The Wedding Banquet, Youn revealed, “My eldest son came out in 2000. When same-sex marriage became legal in New York, we held his wedding there.”

She explained, “Since it was still a secret in Korea, the whole family went to New York. Now, I even love my son’s husband—my son-in-law—even more.”

She also said her role in The Wedding Banquet was inspired by her real life. “Korea is a very conservative country. People don’t openly talk about being gay, especially not in front of their parents. But because my son is gay, I used my own experiences for this movie.”

Youn added with honesty, “I don’t know how people in Korea will react when I go back. But I hope Korea opens its heart.”

Youn Yuh Jung married singer Jo Young Nam in 1975 and had two sons before divorcing in 1987. She raised them on her own. The son she spoke about graduated from Columbia University and even worked with ABC News.

Her movie The Wedding Banquet is a new version of Ang Lee’s 1993 film, now directed by Korean-American Andrew Ahn. It tells the story of two gay immigrants in the U.S. who plan a fake marriage — leading to a lot of chaos and heartfelt moments.

Youn plays the role of Min’s grandmother. The cast also includes Han Ki Chan, Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, and Joan Chen.

Fans and netizens are now cheering Youn for her brave confession and strong support for her son and his husband. Many are saying, “She’s a true queen,” and “This is the kind of love we need to see more of.”

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Lee Jun Young recently opened up about the emotional toll of playing a villain—and how one powerful scene made him break down in tears behind the scenes.

On the May 1st episode of KBS 2TV’s variety show Problem Child in House, Lee Jun Young appeared alongside co-star Jung Eun Ji to promote their new KBS drama Pump Up the Healthy Love.

During the show, Lee Jun Young was asked about the most unforgettable villain he’s played. He chose his role as Han Su Gang in the film Brave Citizen.

He explained, “It was really tough to film. I had to act like I was leading school violence, and there was even a scene where I bullied a grandmother.”

The hosts were surprised, pointing out how kind and gentle he seems in real life. Lee Jun Young shared how he transforms for such roles.

“I try to act as bad as I can, but sometimes the director says, ‘You still look too nice.’ Then I focus even harder and adjust right away.”

He also revealed that filming one particular scene hit him hard emotionally. “My real grandmother was sick at the time,” he said.

“In one scene, there’s a grandma selling gimbap, and I ad-libbed by stubbing a cigarette out on the gimbap. I was really into character, but after filming, I just broke down. So many thoughts came to me and I started crying.”

Fans praised his dedication to acting but also felt moved by how deeply the role affected him. Lee Jun Young’s honesty gave a raw look at how even fictional roles can hit close to home.

Source: [1]